Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Daniel Seal.

The Worshipful the Mayor was present.

The Mayor’s Chaplain, Pastor Doreen Teh, offered prayers.

It was noted that many Councillors were members of libraries within the borough or held surgeries within libraries and that where this applied, there was no need to declare an interest.  

RESOLVED that the minutes of the extraordinary and ordinary meetings held on 20 January 2015 be agreed as a correct record.

There were none.

There was none.

The Worshipful the Mayor called for nominations for election of Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet for 2015/16:

Conservative Group Nomination

Councillor Maureen Braun, duly seconded by Councillor Anthony Finn moved that Councillor Mark Shooter be proposed for the appointment of Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet at the annual meeting of the council on 13 May 2015.

Labour Group Nomination

Councillor Ross Houston, duly seconded by Councillor Jim Tierney moved that the Councillor Kath McGuirk be proposed for the appointment of Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet at the annual meeting of the council on 13 May 2015.

The Mayor advised Council that a vote for was in favour of the Conservative Nomination, Councillor Mark Shooter, and a vote against was in favour of the Labour Nomination, Councillor Kath McGuirk. Upon the Conservative nomination being put to the vote, the votes were declared as follows:

For:            31

Against:     31

Abstain:       0

Absent:        1

TOTAL:      63

The Mayor used his casting vote and voted in favour of the Conservative nomination, Councillor Mark Shooter.  Councillor Shooter was nominated.

RESOLVED – That Councillor Mark Shooter be formally proposed and seconded at the annual meeting of the council on 13 May 2015 for the appointment as Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet for the municipal year 2015/16.

Councillor Mark Shooter thanked those present for the confidence shown in him and undertook to do his very best in his term of office as Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet. He announced that Councillor Alison Cornelius had consented to be his Deputy Mayor.

Details of the procedure to be followed at the meeting are set below:

1.            Lead Petitioner is given up to five minutes to present the petition

2.            Council Members have an opportunity to ask questions of the Lead Petitioner then debate the item.

3.            The relevant Committee Chairman will respond to the issues raised in the petition and outline the decision route (if any) he/she proposes to take

The lead petitioner Mr Alasdair Hill addressed Council.

The following members asked a question of the lead petitioner:

·         Councillor Wendy Prentice

·         Councillor Reema Patel

·         Councillor Jack Cohen

·         Councillor Graham Old

·         Councillor Alon Or-Bach

During debate Councillor Reema Patel moved a motion without notice. The Monitoring Officer advised that the motion was out of order because the Constitution detailed the mechanism for dealing with petitions under which it was for the Chairman of the relevant committee to propose a route for decision-making.

Following debate on the petition, the Chairman of Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee, Councillor Reuben Thompstone, responded to the issues raised and outlined a proposed decision route.  He advised the Council that libraries would discussed in a cross-party political forum, the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee.  He advised the Council that although Councillor Jack Cohen did not have a seat on the Committee, he would ensure that Councillor Cohen had an opportunity to participate in the debate on the issue.

Councillor Reema Patel moved the following motion without notice:

“In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.4, that Council appoint a cross-party committee dedicated to talking to local residents, staff and Members on what they would like to see from a twenty-first century library service in Barnet.  That this Committee meets every month over the next six months to gather this evidence and then report its findings to the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee. The committee should comprise three conservative party councillors, two labour party councillors and one liberal democrat party councillor:

Councillor Sury Khatri (Chairman)

Councillor Anne Hutton (Vice-Chairman)

Councillor Shimon Ryde

Councillor Lisa Rutter

Councillor Jack Cohen”

The motion was duly seconded by Councillor Adam Langleben.

Council voted on the motion. The votes were declared as follows:

For:           31

Against:    31

Abstain:      0

Absent:       1

The Worshipful the Mayor used his casting vote and voted against the motion.  The motion was declared lost.

Upon the motion in the name of Councillor Reema Patel being put to the vote, at least ten members called for a formal division on the voting.  Upon the vote being taken the results of the Division were declared as follows:

There was no report from the Leader of the Council.

In accordance with council procedure rule 6.2 the Worshipful the Mayor varied the order of business as follows:

The Worshipful the Mayor moved suspension of Council Procedure Rule 26 with regards to the length of speeches on the budget.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Reuben Thompstone and declared carried.

RESOLVED to allow the initial speeches on the budget to be up to the following lengths:

Councillor Brian Salinger asked a question about the Schools Funding Formula.  The Leader undertook to ensure that the Policy & Resources Committee would consider his question.

The Leader, Councillor Richard Cornelius, moved reception and adoption of the recommendations set out in the report from the Policy and Resources Committee.

Councillor Jack Cohen and Councillor Barry Rawlings moved their amendments.

Debate ensued.

The Worshipful the Mayor moved that under meeting procedure rule 14.2 the time for transaction of business be extended to 10.30pm.

In line with Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and in accordance with council procedure rule 15.4 voting was recorded.

Upon being put to the vote, the Liberal Democrat Alternative Budget was declared lost.  Voting on the Liberal Democrat Alternative Budget:

For:             1

Against:    31

Abstain:    30

Absent:       1

TOTAL:    63

Upon being put to the vote, Councillor Barry Rawling’s amendment was declared lost, with voting being declared as follows:

Councillor Daniel Thomas moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report. Debate ensued.

In relation to the recommendations as set out in the report in respect of Brent Cross Cricklewood Compulsory Purchase Order (No.1) the votes were recorded as follows:

For:           31

Against:    31

Abstain:      0

Absent:       1

TOTAL:    63

The Worshipful the Mayor used his casting vote in favour of the recommendations.  The recommendations were declared carried.

RESOLVED that Council approve:

1.            That a compulsory purchase order (CPO) be made pursuant to the powers in section 226(1) (a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) for the acquisition of the land shaded pink on the plan at Appendix 1 and pursuant to section 13 of the Local Government (Misc Provisions) Act 1976 to acquire new rights in respect of the land shaded blue on the said plan.

2.            That the appropriate Chief Officers be authorised to settle the final form and content of the CPO and associated documentation and take all action needed to pursue the CPO and secure its confirmation.

3.            That the appropriate Chief Officers be authorised, following the confirmation of the CPO, to implement the CPO powers and acquire title to and/or take possession of the land.

4.            That the appropriate Chief Officers be authorised to carry out the necessary procedures under Part 11 of the Housing Act 1985 and to use Ground 10A to obtain vacant possession of Council owned dwellings that are occupied by secure tenants in the area shown shaded pink on the plan at Appendix 1.

5.            That the appropriate Chief Officers be authorised to approve the service of Initial and Final Demolition Notices as required pursuant to the Housing Act 2004 to suspend the right to buy on properties due for demolition which are situated on the Whitefield Estate but fall within the Brent Cross North Development and on the Rosa Freedman Centre.

6.            That the appropriate Chief Officers be authorised to take all necessary steps to re-house secure tenants from the Sheltered Housing Units at  Rosa Freeman and to pay statutory homeloss and disturbance to those tenants.

In relation to the recommendations as set out in the report in respect of Brent Cross Cricklewood Compulsory Purchase Order (No.2) the votes were recorded as follows:

For:           31

Against:    31

Abstain:      0

Absent:       1

TOTAL:    63

The Worshipful the Mayor used his casting vote in favour of the recommendations.  The recommendations were declared carried.

RESOLVED that Council approve:

1.         That a compulsory purchase order (CPO) be made pursuant to the powers in section 226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) for the acquisition of the land shaded pink on the plan at Appendix 1.

2.         That the appropriate Chief Officers be authorised to settle the final form and content of the CPO and associated documentation and take all action needed to pursue the CPO and secure its confirmation.

3.         That the appropriate Chief Officers be authorised, following the confirmation of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Councillor Daniel Thomas moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report.

In relation to the recommendations as set out in the report the votes were recorded as follows:

For:           31

Against:      1

Abstain:    30

Absent:       1

TOTAL:    63

The recommendations were declared carried.

RESOLVED that Council:

1.         Approve the appointment of Argent and Related Companies PLC (Bidder Z) as the Council's preferred development partner for the Brent Cross Cricklewood South Scheme.

2.         Approve the selection of Gateway Barnet consortium comprising Far East Consortium, Countryside Properties and Notting Hill Housing Trust (Bidder Y) as the Council’s reserve development partner for the Brent Cross Cricklewood South Scheme.

3.         Authorise Officers to work up the Joint Venture Structure, Business Plan, Project Agreement and documentation necessary to form the joint venture for consideration and approval by Assets, Regeneration and Growth Committee prior to formally entering into the joint venture contract.

RESOLVED that Council note the appointment of Mr. Chris Munday as the Commissioning Director – Children and Young People (the Council’s Designated Director of Children’s Services), subject to the receipt of satisfactory references.

Councillor Richard Cornelius moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report, together with an amendment.

Councillor Alison Moore spoke on the motion and moved an amendment.

Council voted on Councillor Richard Cornelius’ amendment; the votes were recorded as follows:

For:           31

Against:    31

Abstain:      0

Absent:       1

The Worshipful the Mayor used his casting vote in support of the amendment.  The amendment was declared carried. 

Council voted on Councillor Alison Moore’s amendment.  The votes were recorded as follows:

For:           31

Against:    31

Abstain:      0

Absent:       1

The Worshipful the Mayor used his casting vote against the amendment. The amendment was declared to be lost.

Council voted on the substantive motion as amended.  The votes were recorded as follows:

For:           31

Against:      0

Abstain:    31

Absent:       1

The Worshipful the Mayor used his casting vote in support of the substantive motion.  The motion as amended was declared to be carried.

RESOLVED that Council:

1.            Approve the Pay Policy Statement 2015-16 as set out at Annex A.

2.            Agree that the London Living Wage, as determined by City Hall, at the rate of £9.15 shall be the minimum hourly rate for Barnet Council employees from the 1^st April 2015 for the financial year 2015/16 and that provision is found within the existing budgets for that financial year. 

Before consideration of agenda item 11.2, the Mayor moved suspension of Council Procedure Rules 2.2 and Meeting Procedure Rules 14.1 and 14.2 to enable the remaining business on the agenda to be completed after 10.30pm.  The proposal was duly seconded by Councillor Daniel Thomas. 

Council voted on the proposal to suspend standing orders.  The votes were recorded as follows:

For:           31

Against:      1

Abstain:    30

Absent:       1

The proposal was declared to be carried.

Councillor Tom Davey spoke on the recommendations set out in the report.

Councillor Ross Houston spoke on the Members Item in his name (Viability Reports) and moved an amendment.

Council voted on Councillor Ross Houston’s amendment.  The votes were recorded as follows:

For:           31

Against:    31

Abstain:     0

Absent:      1

The Worshipful the Mayor used his casting vote against the amendment. The amendment was declared lost. 

Upon the amendment in the name of Councillor Ross Houston being put to the vote, at least ten members called for a formal division on the voting.  Upon the vote being taken, the results of the division were declared as follows:

For:           31

Against:    31

Abstain:      0

Absent:       1

TOTAL:    63

The Worshipful the Mayor used his casting vote against the amendment. The amendment was declared to be lost.

Council voted on the Members Item in the name of Councillor Ross Houston as referred by the Housing Committee:

For:           31

Against:    31

Abstain:      0

Absent:       1

TOTAL:    63

The Worshipful the Mayor used his casting vote against the Members Item in the name of Councillor Ross Houston.  The proposals set out in the Members Item were declared lost.

Councillor Adam Langleben spoke on the Members Item in his name (Barnet Regeneration Estates) and moved an amendment.

Council voted on Councillor Adam Langleben’s amendment.  The votes were recorded as follows:

For:           31

Against:    31

Abstain:      0

Absent:       1

TOTAL:    63

The Worshipful the Mayor used his casting vote against the amendment. The amendment was declared lost. 

Upon the amendment in the name of Councillor Adam Langleben being put to the vote, at least ten members called for a formal division on the voting.  Upon the vote being taken, the results of the division were declared as follows:

The Monitoring Officer introduced the report. 

A typographical error was noted in the report, namely that the proposed scheme was incorrectly labelled as Appendix A rather than Appendix B.

Councillor Richard Cornelius moved reception of the report and recommendations contained therein.

Council voted on the motion.  The votes were recorded as follows:

For:           31

Against:      1

Abstain:    30

Absent:       1

The motion was declared to be carried.

RESOLVED that Council, having had regard to the recommendations of the Independent Panel on the Remuneration of Councillors in London (as attached as Appendix A), approve the Members’ Allowances Scheme (attached as Appendix B) for 2015/16 effective from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016.

The Monitoring Officer introduced the report.

Councillor Joan Scannell moved reception of the report and recommendations contained therein subject to an amendment.

Council voted on the motion as amended; the votes were recorded as follows:

For:           31

Against:      0

Abstain:    31

Absent:       1

The motion as amended was declared to be carried.

RESOLVED that Council:

1.            Confirm the Head of Customer Strategy and Programmes as statutory proper officer births, marriages and deaths.

2.         Delegates its functions in relation to approving premises for marriages and the formation of civil partnerships under the Marriage Act 1949 and the Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) Regulations 2005 to the General Functions Committee.

There were none.